Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-13

/ me tu my room. and there wished m,
I good night remember even that I.izzi,
/ having fallen asleep in her fathers arms
| kissed her little check, pale,l 10y sleep
and her dimplcd little arms
Left alone. | began TO undress SLOWLY
and wandering about the room, a. one
always does when one sleeps in straug,
place. felt rs If | should smother in the
close atmosphere Of the room Before
getting in bed wanted to inhalc little
Of the outside air, and in spite of the roar
ing storm | tried To open the window. 1t
was a false window.
Well, WE'LL | exclaimed, little sur
prised.
| thought would remove the chimney
screen; il WAS false chimney. j rushed
10 the door--it was locked! Fear seized
me. and, holding my breath, l listened.
The house was quiet, all seemed 10 be
asleep. Then | inspected the room care
fully, straining my ears for the least
sound. On the floor, near the bed, |
noticed spots; il was hlood-'lried and
blaCkened blood | shuddercd and a cold
sweat stood ont on my forehead. Blood
Why should there be blood there? Aud |
saw that whole sea Of blood must have
been split Therefor great space around
the hard wooden floor had been freshly
scrubbed and sCraped. All at once cried
ont Under the bed | had seen n man.
stretched out, motionless as an overturned
statue could not cry or call out. With
trembling hands touched the man. He
did not move With trembling hands
pushed the man. He did not move. With
trembling hands seized the man by the
feet and drew him fOrth-fe was dead.
His neck had been clcanly cut, as with
one stroke of a razor, and the head held To
the trunh only by slender ligameut.
thought should 80 mad. But some
thing must be done-the assassin might
come At any moment. | raised the body
10 place il on the bed. made false
step and the livid head turned over,
swung to and fro for "A moment like "A
hideous pendulum. and then, detached
from the trunk, fell on the floor with a
duh sound. With great difficulty intro
duced the deCaptated trunk lsetween the
sheets. picked up the head and placed il
on the pillow like that of sleeping man.
and. having blown ont the candle, |
slipped under the bed. did all this me
chancally, without thought of defense or
safety; il WAS instinct that prompted me-
not intelligence or reflection.
My teeth chattered. My hands Were
wet with thick moisture. ] felt as If |
had gone To bed in a charuel house.
l remained there in that awful fear
minutes, hours, months, years, centuries-
l do not know how long. | lost all idea
of time and place All was silent. From
without the nose of the storm and the
whistling of the wind came to me softened
and sad. like means. / could not picture
10 myself the assassin who was coming
who was there perhaps. In that state of
horror could see only little Lizzie, fair.
rosy and frank, with her doll and her great
hat; could see her sleeping in her fathers
arms; now and then she lightly raised her
eyelids and disclosed her eyes. which
seemed 10 me 10 be bold, implacable.
cruel murlercus.
The door opened, but as softly rs the
of mouse. bit my lips till
the blood came to keep from crying out
Now a man stepped in with gliding tread,
with infinite precautions to avoid touching
the furniture. Ii seemed to me as if
could See the cruel, clutChing fingers glid-
ing over my clothes, searching my pockets
ilti lilt StsIiltu 10
Craze me | felt that the man was bend
ing over the bed, that he struck one fierce
blow. Then knew nothing more
When | recovered consciousness the
room had become silent again But fright
held me nailed 10 the spot. At length
decided Ia escape. with what caution you
may imagine. On tiptoe gained the door,
which had not been closed. Not sound
I
into the hail. lwaited TO see head thrust
suddenly from out the shadows, a knife
yleam in the dark But no-the brute,
;lutted with crime. slept without remorse.
[ descended the stairs. drew the bolt of the
loor, and, half fainting. with the blood
frozen in my veins. | fell into the gutter
# the deserted street.
DIR. Bertram had listened to my recital
with the deepest interest.
And there found you, Mr.. FurnisS.
and in what a state! Could you recognize
he house"
"Yes,'' / replied: but 90 what ends
We'll, let me cure you, and then we |
hall go together TO the house of these as
,aSSins"
Eight days later the doctor and stood |
II Lower Abbey street. Ttecognized the !
errible house. All the blinds We're |
lrawn; in front OF the door a placard was |
,laced, bearing the legend: "To Let.'
| inquired of the former residents from |
rcighbor.
They have been gone a month and |
more" She replied Its great pity, !
or they were very nice people. ''-Trans- /
ated for The Argonaut from the French /,
# Octave Mirbeau.